MAY 16, 2003

Ecclestone confirms hope for Austria

Bernie Ecclestone has confirmed that the future of the Austrian GP is not a closed book.

"We don't know what is going to happen," he said. "We will have to see what happens with our friend from Red Bull."

Ecclestone suggested that the FIA Formula 1 Championship calendar for 2004 could grow to 18 races.

"That may happen," he said, adding that the F1 teams may have to agree to it, something which they have not been willing to agree to in the past. The Concorde Agreement allows for the possibility of 17 events in a season so it is not clear what Bernie meant by his comments.